Frugal Series

Yesterday I gave you fun ideas for a FREE or cheap Indiana Staycation. Today, I’ve partnered with bloggers around the United States to give you ideas for hundreds of cities. Whether you live in the city or are just heading there on vacation, make sure to check out the great staycation ideas to help you save!

CityDeals is a social shopping site that offers up to 80% off of local and nationwide restaurants, spas, entertainment, and more! You can search for deals within a certain mile radius of your city, browse their categories, checkout the Deal Outlet, or see What’s Hot.

Through CityDeals you can buy discount gift certificates, tickets, and packages.

What do you need to know?

1. CityDealsoffers multiple deals each day. Each deal has a limited number available and deals last until they are sold out.

2. Shipping is $0.99 for United States Postal Service First Class Mail and shipping not included in the purchase price. You can not print gift certificates or gift cards. They will be mailed in approximately 1-2 days and arrive in approximately 5-7 days.

3. Looking for a deal near you on something specific? Request a deal to set up a Deal Alert and get notified when the deal you want is available.

4. Most gift certificates have expiration dates.

5. Most businesses will provide you with a credit in cash, a voucher, or store credit, if you do not use an entire gift certificate in one transaction. Make sure to read the fine print.

How do I make a purchase?

1. When you find a deal you want, click the button with the deal you’d like. Some businesses have more than one deal available.

2. Read the fine print and description, then input your quantity and “Add to Cart”.

3. “Continue Shopping” to buy other deals at the same time or “Go To Cart” to check out.

4. Follow the steps to complete check out and remember, shipping will be added to your total.

Groupon is a social shopping site that offers deals from local businesses. Groupon is the place to save on family fun, pampering yourself, or being generous! You can find everything from movie tickets to spa services, hair cuts to restaurants, and so much more. It’s a wonderful way to get deals on things your family loves and to try new things.

Groupon has to be my favorite social shopping site, though Eversave is a close second. I’ve used it to purchase my husband a 1-hour massage, my sister-in-law a family pass to Ben & Ari’s, and us passes to Snapperz, plus so much more.

2. Groupon offers group discounts to individuals, so when companies contract, they agree to the discount price if a certain amount of people purchase the deal. If not enough people make the purchase, the deal is off and you will not be charged.

3. Each Groupon is only good for the person who makes the purchase, but you can buy Groupons as a gift for friends.

4. There are offen limits on deals, such as 1 per person, but you can often buy multiple as gifts.

5. Make sure to check the offer’s exact location! For example, if a restaurant offers a deal and there are many locations in your area, the Groupon may still only be good at one or select loctions.

jasmere is a social shopping site that promotes lesser known retailers who deserve national attention. Then, they negotiate with these businesses to get discount group rates up to 70% off retail value. The more customers who make a purchase, the lower the price will go.

jasmere is an equal opportunity social shopping site, so you may see anything – woman’s clothing, baby fashions, housewares, jewelry, food, pet needs, kids stuff, toys, and so much more!

What do you need to know?

1. jasmere lists the “current price” for their featured sale item. However, when more people make a purchase, the “current price” may lower. When it lowers, it lowers for everyone, even those who already made their purchase.

2. Often, jasmereoffers vouchers, which work like gift certificates and can be used to make any purchase on the site!

3. Each day a new site is “Featured” and their sale is 24 hours only. Features end each weekday at noon EST.

4. jasmerepromotes companies that are eco-friendly, so you’ll often find organic, recycled, and other retailers who are doing their part to preserve the environment.

5. Check out jasmere on Facebook to enter daily giveaways for a chance to win the Featured Product absolutely FREE!

3. Complete the payment information. Your credit card will be authorized, so you may see a hold appear to let them know your credit card is valid.

4. The current price may lower as more orders are made. When the featured item ends at noon EST, the final price will be charged to your credit card, so you get the lowest possible price. Therefore, you may be charged less than you expected to pay.

Today’s Feature (August 31, 2010) -

Until noon EST tomorrow, you can get $41 voucher for Ottilie & Lulu’s for only $17! Like I said, this price may drop as more order,but this is still 59% off of retail price.

Designed for girls age 7-14, Ottilie & Lulu includes hair care, skin care for face or body, sun protection, and gifts specially formulated for tween girls, such as lotion to make you glow, spa essentials for sleepovers, and silky detangler.

Gilt is a social shopping site that offers online discounts for high-end merchandise. If you coupon to save money, because you love to shop and love fashion, this is the social buying site for you!

Well-known name brands at dramatic discounts! That’s what you’ll find at Gilt, from Marc Jacobs to Fancy Nancy and everything in between.

What do you need to know?

1. Gilt is an invitation only shopping site, so please accept my invitation to get access to the exclusive deals and sign up for notifications about new sales!

2. All sales are first come, first serve and often merchandise is limited, so check out sales early and make sure to to not hesitate if you see something you definitely want.

3. You can see advanced previews of upcoming sales on their site, so be sure to read up to see what’s coming!

4. Gilt has many sales going on simultaneously in the categories of Women, Men, Home, or Children.

5. Sales last 36 hours, but sales may end early if merchandise sales out.

How do I make a purchase?

1. Shop around on Gilt and when you find items you want, add them to your cart.

2. When you’re done, proceed to check out and sign in.

3. Complete the payment information and finish checking out.

Today’s Sales (August 30, 2010) -

There are so many sales going on right now, I couldn’t name them all, but Fancy Nancy caught my 6-year-old’s eye, so she insisted I needed to pick that picture. You can get these popular $18 books from Harper Collins for only $11 right now. However, if you’re not a Fancy Nancy fan, here’s a few more sales you can check out –

Eversave is a social shopping site that offers local deals to specific areas. It has to be one of my all-time favorites so far, because I have been using it to find the coolest Christmas gifts for some family members who are usually impossible to buy for.

Like with all social buying sites, the Saves (as they call them) are only available for a limited time. They offer discounts to alert you to new, trendy, and unique products. You can find everything including organics, clothing, trendy merchandise, food, green-living products, restaurants, spa services, and more for you, your family, or your home.

What do you need to know?

1. Every save requires a minimum number of buyers for the Save to occur. If the minimum number do not purchase the Save, you’ll get your money back and notified that you did not get the Save.

2. Saves are often available for 24 hours or multiple days and more than one may be going on at a time. Make sure to check the “Bonus Saves” on the sidebar for more Saves available that day.

3. Saves can not be combined with other offers or specials unless otherwise mentioned and do not include tax or shipping and handling.

4. Save vouchers are transferable unless otherwise noted, so you can give one to someone else if you’re unable to use it or feeling generous. You can also select to purchase Saves as gifts during your purchase.

5. Saves must be used in one single transaction, so make sure to use it all!